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Sunday, November 17, 2013

How to Personalise Your Fish Tank and Give it the Wow Factor

Common fish, uninspiring layout, all these help make the nation's fish tanks rather drab and underwhelming. We've lived with the luxury of having our very own little aquatic world for so long that it's become passé and pedestrian.

I'm going to try and fire up those creative juices and bring your fish tanks to life! Inject some style and personalise it to make an entertaining focal point.

So, what am I talking about? Well I've had more experience than most with aquariums. My father used to breed tropical fish so I've got countless hours under my belt of visiting numerous fish farms and garden centres in various countries. I've seen many examples of fresh water and marine aquariums, both commercial and domestic, and whilst a small few have drawn my interest, nearly all look like the owners have as much creativity as the fish inside.

Let's take the example of a father who wants to buy a regular fish tank for his family home. He will have probably taken his kids to a few garden centres and watched them rush up to the aquariums with the fish from Finding Nemo, or some funny-looking creature like a crab or puffer, then wow at the unusual ones like Discus and sting rays. He'll have a word with the staff and realise he's better off with fish that are easier to care for, so goes for some cheap and cheerful ones.

Next up is the aquarium itself. They're quite expensive so any thoughts of a modern art masterpiece are far from his mind. Rectangular? Yes. Wooden cabinet? Yes thank you.

Finally, what to put in it? Well let's see. I bought the aquarium and fish from the same shop, so let's look around in here. Gravel? Check. Rock? Check. Background wallpaper with plants on it? Check. Done. Man, this easy...

OK, so now you have an identikit fish tank that disappears next to an exciting sofa. The kids have gotten bored with it and are no longer feeding the fish. You've had enough with changing the water, cleaning the tank, etc... What to do to bring a bit of life back into it?

The most obvious option is to go for a theme. This will depend on what decorations you can get your hands on, but how about Atlantis or Bermuda Triangle (airplane graveyard)?

Most important of all, remember that fish safety comes first. Don't stick anything on the glass that might stress them out, or put anything in the water that might be toxic to them. Go on some of the forums and ask some experts for advice if you're not sure.

The cabinet or stand usually comes in all colours as long as they're black. No, I'm joking. They also have white and brown (how exciting). Ever thought of customizing it? After all, it's totally separate from the fish tank itself so you can personalise it without harming the fish. Just remember it has to remain strong enough to support the weight. How about spray painting it, stencilling, painting or decorating?

For the aquarium background, ever thought of putting one of your own pictures there? You can print a picture onto some large photo paper (or collate several smaller ones).

For the inside of the aquarium, you may look to Nature for inspiration. A forest stream, a beach, a river bed, a tranquil lake or even look at the world around you, the concrete towers, the cars, toys, etc... Ever been to the London Aquarium? It's not that impressive, but they still have some nice touches like the display which resembles a trash-ridden pond, and the bones in the piranha tank. You can use silicon sealant to glue some glass together and add different layers to your fish tank (such as a beach or a cave).

You may find that as they have more nooks and crannies to flitter in and out of, the fish might even be happier. It's not that hard to personalise your fish tank, and it doesn't have to be expensive. Be creative and resourceful, maybe even think about redecorating it after a few years, and the aquarium will get a new lease of life.

I am the founder of Ciollo.com [http://www.ciollo.com], where you can ask for anything, and have others bid to provide this item or service for you. The site is worldwide and completely free of charge. As long as you can agree on a price, the limit really is your imagination.

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